The Free-Standing Company in the World Economy, 1830-1996

Distinct from the classic multinationals, free-standing companies were those companies established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to organize and manage operations for a European parent company. Leading international scholars here provide evidence and analysis of the operations of free-standing companies, draw comparisons with the "American model" multinational enterprise, and make a valuable contribution to the understanding of modern economic history.